It was announced that Oscar winning actress Geena Davis, in conjunction with Walmart, is launching The Bentonville Film Festival to promote diversity in film. The festival is set for May 5-9 and promises guaranteed distribution for its winning films. The actress has been a long-time advocate for female visibility in the movies, both on-screen and behind the camera through her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

Here is an item from the Northwest Arkansas Times dated 4/26/52. Looks like it was already the Plaza by 1952.

Jack “Pud” Fields has sold the Plaza Grill, located in the Plaza Theater building, to Dan Pickens, a Korean war veteran who served with the 936th Field Artillery Battalion of the Arkansas National Guard.

Bentonville, Aug.9-A.M. Lightner, Guy D. Lightner and Mary T. Grant have become the owners of the Meteor Theater in a deal with Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Williams, of Tonkawa, Okla., who purchased the property about a month ago. The theater was valued at $20,000, and a 40-acre farm owned by the Lightners near the New Hope rural school was part of the consideration. Mr. Williams, who has been manager of the theater, will continue in charge of it for the present. The theater was built a few years ago by Harry Kelly and is one of the finest in this section.